Juan Pablo Montoya refuses to back down after fierce Max Verstappen criticism

Juan Pablo Montoya has dismissed a storm of criticism that followed his seemingly harsh assessment of Max Verstappen during the Miami Grand Prix weekend.

The former F1 driver turned on the four-time champion, who produced a remarkable save seconds after the start when clipped by a passing Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari.

In the middle of the track, and with the field behind him, Verstappen spun through 360 degrees before continuing. Remarkably, he avoided being hit by a passing car.

Montoya described the moment as "pure luck" before then wading in on Verstappen's criticism this season of the sport, claiming the 28-year-old Red Bull driver should have points added to his FIA Super Licence and be suspended by the governing body.

"Park him," snapped Montoya. "Add seven points to the licence, eight points to the licence. Whatever you do after, you're going to be parked. I guarantee you, all the messaging would be different."

In the MontoyAS podcast, the Colombian has defended his remarks, despite the wave of angry opinion from fans denouncing what he said. 

"You say that people hit me hard because of my comments about Max," said Montoya. "Honestly, I don't even see it, and I don't care that much.

"Max spun on the first lap, and yes, he saved the situation. If you want to say that's skill, fine, let's call it skill. But he spun, and he made a mistake exiting the pits during the safety car."

'I have footage'

Montoya feels that the mistake that earned Verstappen a five-second penalty, even though it did not affect his fifth position at the end of the race, should not have been made.

The 28-year-old was adjudged to have crossed the line at the pit exit during the race.

"It wasn't even during the green flag, when you're supposed to give everything," snapped Montoya. "No, it was during the safety car. He should have driven toward the line, but he cut it off; he sent it in too early. I have the footage of that."

Montoya has also hit back at critics who have slated him as being "rude' during his commentaries, for cutting off those he is in conversation with.

"For the Spanish-speaking people who listen to me and say I'm rude because I interrupt people: just so you understand, I'm sitting with a computer in front of me, and a headset with a microphone, so I can hear the broadcast and talk at the same time," he said.

"I have no way of saying to people, 'Hey, I want to say something'. So often, when I see something, I just break in, because that's just how it goes. I don't do it to be rude, just so you know.

"Someone once said to me in an airport, 'You do interrupt people a lot.' And I said, 'But how else am I supposed to do it?'"